The moment two California thieves ram a woman with a car before jumping out and stealing her watch is captured on video.
The video, released by the Los Angeles Police Department, shows a frantic victim running down a busy city street in broad daylight on April 11.
While being pursued by a silver Dodge Challenger, she attempts to flag down a white SUV on the three-lane, one-way street. As the Dodge accelerates and plows into her, the SUV swerves around her and speeds away.
According to the video, a bystander on foot appears to sprint to assist the woman but turns away as the two robbers run out of the car and grab something off the ground. The bystander then returns to the victim, who had only minor injuries, according to police in a news release.
The disturbing crime was part of a larger trend in the City of Angeles in which thieves target victims and then follow people to isolated places or their residences.
The incident displayed in the surveillance footage occurred in Los Angeles’ Jewelry District, where the victim had gone to a fine jewellery store. The Dodge pursued her to an intersection, where a man dashed from the Dodge to the victim’s vehicle and smashed the driver’s side window.
The woman attempted to flee but was stopped by heavy traffic in Los Angeles shortly after noon, according to cops. That’s when she tried to flee before being caught by the Dodge on Eighth Street. When the men – one of whom was armed – arose from the Dodge after striking here, the woman threw her timepiece to the ground, according to law enforcement.
